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  • Birthday Felicitation to Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Obele Abue

    Birthday Felicitation to Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Obele Abue

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    Dear very Fr. Dr. Peter Obele Abue,
    Your existence is indeed a manifestation of God’s providential benevolence on mankind.
    In fulfilment of God’s words as addressed to the Prophet Jeremiah, 1:4, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. I chose you and consecrated you to be a prophet to the nations”. Your apostolate has really justified God’s pronouncement.

    You are a rare breed among the pastors entrusted with the responsibility to shepherd God’s flock.

    Shortly after your priestly ordination, you left for further studies and while there, you created a niche for yourself positively, having lived a trustworthy life to the admiration of many, whose connects, contacts and support you leveraged. You built one of the best worship places in Cross River State for God’s glory, St. Theresa Little Flower Parish church, Ipong.

    Having painstakingly watched with utter dismay the sufferings of the African child and juxtaposing same with developed countries, you midwifed a pet project CHILDREN OF RURAL AFRICA code named (CorAfrica- Nigeria) to give hope to the African child.

    You sought for grants and support using your pet project, built and handed over nursery/primary and secondary schools @St. Joseph model schools/Orphanage, Idum -Mbube, St. Theresa the Little Flower nursery/primary school, Ipong in Obudu, to the catholic diocese of Ogoja.

    You have paid school charges for so many indigent children.
    You are a priest of no mean repute, touching lives through your ministration and charity.
    The church is in dare need of your kind especially in this era of gospel commercialization.

    On this day of your birth anniversary, the church in particular and the society at large demands your collaborated disposition to speak truth to power that suppresses us and deny us our due without compromise.

    The entire Mbube kingdom is blessed to have you as their son, your apostolate speaks volume within Ogoja diocese and beyond.
    It is my prayer for you this day that God hasten your plans for CorAfrica as to extend and expand your coverage to areas where the attention is needed most.

    Fr. Peter Obele Abue is the Vicar General of the catholic diocese of Ogoja and parish priest of St. Thoma’s Parish, Igoli-Ogoja local government area of cross river state.

    Padre, you have the assurances of our esteemed goodwill, support and prayers to shepherd God’s flock.

    Be rest assured that the best is yet yet to come
    The future is even brighter.
    Happy birth anniversary to you servant of the most high!

    #PeterObeleAbue
    #DioceseofOgoja
    #StThomasIgoli
    #CorAfrica

    Elijah Ugani
    Executive Director
    CorAfrica- Nigeria

  • Locking down Nigeria not helping fight against COVID-19 – Ayade

    Locking down Nigeria not helping fight against COVID-19 – Ayade

    Government House Press – Calabar

    Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade has urged the federal government to discontinue with the policy of shutting down the country in its effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

    Ayade who spoke to newsmen Monday at the Cross River state Rice Seeds and Seedlings factory, Calabar during the official commencement of deployment of agricultural machines to various parts of the state, said a complete lockdown of Nigeria has been counter productive.

    He therefore, “pleads with the federal government not to shut down this country. The healthy people cannot be locked down. It is the sick that should be identified and isolated and locked down. You do not lock down a healthy citizen, a healthy individual who falls within an area where there is no reported case or confirmed case.

    “The sick has to be shut down for the healthy to work, and by the sick I mean those who have confirmed cases, those who fall Within the tracing line, those who fall within the suspicion line. They have to be locked down for the healthy to work. But locking down the sick and the healthy together only creates an expansion climate for the virus. In some cases the lockdown creates a more clustered and difficult and accumulated residence like people who live in squatter camps. When you lock them down it expands and increases the chance of contamination,” he said.

    Continuing, the governor said: “If everyone goes out with a nose mask and is busy in the day and returns, tired he goes to his bed to sleep. But the idea of locking down ebullient young people with so much energy boiling out, it is never going to work.
    “It’s not going to work for the economy, it’s not going to work for the people it’s not going to help in controlling the virus.

    While urging the Federal Government to slacken some of its restrictions including flights, he said the pandemic offers Africa the opportunity to catch up the rest of the world.

    He regrets that the continent has failed to grasp the chance.

    “This is the opportunity for Africa to play catch up instead of adopting what is happening in Europe because it can never be exactly the same in our circumstance. Our demographics are not the same, we have a lot of young people with very strong immune system.
    “That is why I insist we should just wear nose mask and loosen up the country. Let the airlines start working. Just insist that nobody gets into an airplane to fly without a nose mask.”
    He insisted that a general use of the nose mask will flatten the curve in no time.

  • Voodoo Appointments and the Demystification of Ben Ayade: The beginning of the End

    Voodoo Appointments and the Demystification of Ben Ayade: The beginning of the End

    • BY VENA IKEM- CALABAR

    Do people still celebrate”Appointments”? I understand that there was a flood of over 400 appointments today!

    I understand that of the Over 100 “Special Advisers” only about 15 have so far been paid.

    Commissioners just received their first salaries and beginning from the month of March, despite being appointed in December.

    The other motley crowd that laughs at themselves and their titles know that it’s all a joke! They are still doing “documentation”!

    As the comedy continues and more names are being announced even as Ayade knows very well that he has no plans to pay anybody, the helpless citizen has no choice than to encourage himself in the hope that he will be paid. What’s the alternative? He hasn’t any. And so despite knowing that the man appointing him is not sincere with the appointment, he goes around trying to convince himself that he has something to hope for. He knows in his heart of hearts that he doesn’t.

    Apart from Commissioners and some Special Advisers, most of the rest are still struggling with “documentation” whose requirements now include Tax Clearance and “Letter of Appointment”! In the process people are borrowing to pay taxes to access an appointment for which they may never get paid.

    The “smart”way to keep some off the payroll is the demand for a letter of appointment which the appointing authority knows doesn’t exist! The appointments are all on Radio and Television! Yet more appointments are being added.

    Now the scam is beginning.

    What I see in the end is that this strategy of Appointment which is Ayade’s only claim to political “strategy” is the same that will eventually backfire and demystify him and expose his crookedness.

    It’s not his fault. He doesn’t know what else to do. The easiest job he knows as Gov is making appointments! Everything else he tried has failed. No roads. No light. No water. No seaport. No Airport. Nothing! Just appointments. Why should he stop making more appointments? It takes nothing to just compile names and announce! Otherwise, What will be his scorecard?

    Today’s Crude oil prices are reading $12 a barrel! The last month’s federal allocation Committee shared over N700bn naira. It is projected that the next allocation or the one after it might come below N200bn! No sensible State is making deceptive, reckless, childish pretense to mass appointments and mass employment. It takes a certain level of dubious exceptionalism to pretend that you have a solution when you are at the same time seeking to spend money from the Local Govt account which you know you are not entitled to!

    Is it not logical to reason that if the state govt has enough money to embark on these frivolous appointments, she wouldn’t be seeking approval to withdraw almost N1bn illegally from the local Government account?

    Is it not sensible for citizens to ask why the Local Govts have so much money when they are not allowed to embark on the simplest of projects at the local Level? Not a borehole?

    In the end, there will be an endgame.
    When everyone who doesn’t have a voice now will develop one!

    When wind blow we will see wetin fada wear under him long dress!

    Congratulations for accepting to be duped so willingly!

    • NB.
      Try and print this and add to your file for documentation. I will refer you to it next year!
  • WILL MY PARTY, PDP LEARN IT’S LESSON FROM ABI/YAKURR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY RERUN

    WILL MY PARTY, PDP LEARN IT’S LESSON FROM ABI/YAKURR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY RERUN

    Will my party PDP, learn it lesson from the Abi/Yakurr Federal constituency rerun?

    The People’s Democratic Party PDP, in cross river state has lost trajectory with the basic principle of participatory democracy lately.

    Democracy in its simplest understanding being the government of the people, by the people and for the people demands that the processes leading to the emergence of flag bearers should be seen to be participatory, be it primaries or consensus.

    Regrettably, what we now have as opposed to known laws and acts is hand picking, which will soon become a reference point as our norm.

    This classical departure from the ideal is spelling doom for us as a party. Pride will not allow us to come to terms with this all important reality.

    The Abi/Yakurr federal constituency permutation is still fresh in our memories and should be seen as a model for future permutations.

    The PDP handed over it flag to an unpopular candidate and thought that it was going to be a work over, no doubt that the candidate was the Speaker of the 8th Cross River Assembly, but lacked the pedigree to contest election the Alex Egbonna we all know. Unpopular here I mean having an unequal pedestal when placed side by side in all facets of life with his contender,, especially previous antecedents.

    While the main opposition party, the APC desirous of winning the election, insisted on a candidate with the convincing credibility and potentials to win election, and so it was.

    Today another history is to be made as we are all students of history, there is no gain saying the love and concentration the governor has for Yala local government area is unmatched.
    This is evident as the governor while in the senate had more constituency projects in Yala more than other local government areas in the north.

    Today, yala occupies prominent positions in the Ayade government as governor. I insist and have no intention to win your sympathy that the ticket that was given to the late Sen Rose Oko as compensation to forth her medical bills was a great disservice to the people of northern senatorial district.

    My attention was drawn to my position against returning the senate to Yala by some prominent stakeholders who served the state meritoriously in the previous administration, specifically in Sen. Liyel Imoke government, the made reference to the precedence of the late spouses replacing their husbands in the 8th Cross River State House of Assembly which according to them has form a reference point and has come to stay, which should also be applicable to Yala, that Yala should be allowed to complete the tenure. This is what our system has been reduced to. We won’t allow people to abuse our sensibility!

    Where are the late senator’s children, family members to replace her in line with the archaic and Mundane political precedence set for us!

    The APC is busy shopping for a candidate with track records that dates back to the return of democracy, that will have the acceptance of even members of the PDP, the leadership of PDP is busy planning to impose a preferred choice.

    It is however interesting to note that changing strategy is apt if we must stay tune and up to date with developmental trends, it however demands of us to adopt the best model.

    The days ahead are very interesting!

    #Note

    All those jumping to speak and attack my opinion here in support of this abnormality does so because of what they gaining from the leadership of the party, they can’t be more PDP than us. They are paid salaries, maybe for attacking people with contrary opinions.

    We are the very people with genuine interest for the party! Working for the party at all levels winning elections for the party at our pulling units but relegated and stigmatized after the election.

    Ellijah Ugani

  • CORAfrica Awareness Campaign on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

    CORAfrica Awareness Campaign on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

    As the issue of COVID-19 continue to increase around the globe, CORAfrica Nigeria took to both urban and the rural communities in Cross River State to educate the people about COVID-19 by teaching them how to stay safe, distribution of hand sanitizers, nose mask and food items to survive the hard situation caused by the coronavirus.

    Watch the video below 

  • Buhari’s bodyguard dies

    Buhari’s bodyguard dies

    Source: Pulse News NG

    Lawal Mato, one of president Muhammadu Buhari’s personal bodyguards, has died on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

    The president’s media aide, Bashir Ahmad, announced on Tuesday that Mato, a warrant officer, struggled with diabetes.

    The deceased had served the president for a long time before his death, Ahmad said.

    “Mr. Mato had been working with the President for many years before he won the 2015 elections,” the presidential aide tweeted.

    Buhari described the deceased as “very thorough, trustworthy and dependable soldier who carried out his duty with diligence and focus”.

    Mato’s death comes days after the president also lost his long-time friend and chief of staff, Abba Kyari, to the coronavirus disease.

    Kyari died in Lagos last week, almost a month after he was diagnosed with the disease that has infected over 2.5 million people across the world.

  • BREAKING: Abba Kyari buried in Abuja

    BREAKING: Abba Kyari buried in Abuja

    Source: The Punch News

    The remains of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, have been laid to rest in Abuja.

    The body of Kyari, who died on Friday after testing positive for the coronavirus, was interred at the Gudu Cemetery, Abuja.

    The remains arrived at the cemetery about 11.10 am in a white casket.

    The remains were lowered into the grave at about 11.20 am.

    His interment took place shortly after an Islamic prayer was made for him at the Defence House, Maitama, Abuja.

    Top government officials participated in the burial rites which were conducted under the supervision of the officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

  • Abba Kyari’s death saddening, says Ekweremadu

    Abba Kyari’s death saddening, says Ekweremadu

    Former Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, (PDP Enugu-West) has described the death of Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, as a heavy loss to the Presidency and the nation.

    Ekweremadu, on his Twitter handle, @iamekweremadu, expressed deep sadness and condolences to Kyari’s immediate family, President Buhari and the entire Presidency.

    He also prayed to God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal repose.

    “I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing on of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari.

    “It is a heavy loss to The Presidency and the nation, which he gave his all.

    “My heartfelt condolences go to his family, the Presidency and the entire nation.

    “May his soul rest in peace. Amen,’’ Ekweremadu prayed.

    (NAN)

  • Ayade Distibutes Stimulus Package To Vulnerable C’Riverians  -Approves N30,000 monthly salary for new 8000 employees.

    Ayade Distibutes Stimulus Package To Vulnerable C’Riverians  -Approves N30,000 monthly salary for new 8000 employees.

     

    Cross River state governor, Sen Ben Ayade on Wednesday distributed stimulus package to vulnerable persons as well as citizens who cannot fend for themselves due to age or incapacitation across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    Speaking at CROSPIL in Calabar during the distribution of the stimulus package, Ayade declared that he had already approved N30,000 as monthly stipend for beneficiaries of the automatic employment given to 8000 youths between the ages of 18 to 35 in the state starting from Tuesday next week.

    He said, “Distributing food is not the real palliatives ,the real palliative is in giving people jobs .Palliative which is temporal is for poor and vulnerable who cannot fend for themselves.

    “We are starting the real palliative on Tuesday. Whether you are a gardener or cleaner, whatever you can do, we will give a job but we can only pay you 30,000 if you know you need it and want to earn that amount please put down your names and phone numbers; you will be contacted.

    “The food will be shared through our traditional rulers to all the 18 LGAs: We want it to get to the grassroots; this is not about political party. It is about governance; we will also give to churches and various religious organisations to distribute because they know the people well.

    “This is a time to show humanity. Humanity does not know colour or ethnicity. We need to stop spreading fear about the pandemic. What we need is to show the people love especially at this critical time. Fear and hunger is killing people even more than the pandemic.

    “We want to thank President Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria for granting us clearance to deliver our rice seedlings to states.

    “We have built industries and made serious investment. Federal government support is key. We need more of their support so that we can achieve more growth and development in our economy and even more”.

  • WHO Secretary General validates Ayade’s position on social distancing

    WHO Secretary General validates Ayade’s position on social distancing

    Source: CRS News Bulletin

    World Health Organization (WHO) Secretary General, Tedros Adhananom Ghenreyesus has re-echoed Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State’s stance to the effect that social distancing is not practicable under certain conditions.

    He, like Ayade, was also of the view that social distancing is at best, an alternative preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus as other public health measures are equally effective.

    Governor Ayade, a professor of Microbiology had stirred the hornet’s nest recently when he declared the observance of social distancing unnecessary where a population is properly protected with appropriate nose masks, which he has made compulsory in his state.

    He said observing social distancing presupposes normal atmospheric conditions, which is far from reality given that variables such as wind speed and wind direction are outside anyone’s control.

    Dr. Ghebreyesus in a series of tweets Monday, validated the governor’s positions on the matter.

    According to him, “many poor people, migrants and refugees live in over-crowded conditions with few resources and little access to health care. Physical distancing is very difficult in such situations. So, other public health measures must be put in place.”

    He concluded by saying that “while COVID19 accelerates very fast, it decelerates much more slowly. This is especially concerning for countries with large poor population, where #StayatHome orders and other restrictions used in some high income countries may not be practicable.”